Axiom Space, the developers of the spacesuits planned for use aboard NASA’s Artemis missions, is working with Nokia to integrate 4G capabilities into these suits. While spacesuits may not seem like communications devices, they actually already support UHF and WiFi links. The purpose of the additional 4G/LTE link is twofold. First, the new Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS) will provide redundancy for those existing wireless channels between spacesuits. Additionally, the LSCS will have a much higher data bandwidth than the current suit technology, so applications like streaming high-quality video that were not previously possible will become routine. A major benefit of a clear video is that the public and scientists on Earth can feel more engaged in the mission and be able to see what the crew is seeing, leading to improved data and increased support for the program (Foust, 2024). 

Adding a new communications channel to a spacesuit can be cause for concern from a cybersecurity perspective because it opens up another possible avenue for unauthorized access to the suit or any of its components. This access could cause anything from a data breach through the various sensors, including cameras, integrated into the suit to a more critical issue that compromises astronaut safety, as the wearability of the technology adds another dimension of risk. While the risk of an attacker targeting a wireless data link to a spacesuit has already been accepted in some form when UHF and WiFi were added, adding more options for astronauts does unfortunately add more options for attacking them as well. The system architecture being used further increases potential risk, as there is a base station with antennas that will be stationary at the lander and communicate with all of the spacesuits’ user modules (Foust, 2024). This is similar to a star network topology, and it means that an attack on the communication system at the base station with the lander could affect multiple spacesuits simultaneously. Consequently, securing all communications involving the lander is a critical task to avoid compromising several or all of the spacesuits involved in a mission. 

While the new 4G/LTE link needs to be added securely and in a way that does not increase cyber risk, its redundancy with UHF and WiFi is excellent from a cybersecurity perspective, especially when considering the proposed user experience for astronauts. Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s executive vice president of extra-vehicular activity, clarified that 4G/LTE will be one of multiple options provided to astronauts, allowing them to choose which is most appropriate for any given task (Foust, 2024). The ability to quickly switch communications channels if one should become unusable for any reason is a strong security measure that would increase resilience against any potential cyberattack. The independence of the data links available and option to switch as appropriate will ensure that the spacesuit’s communication ability as a whole is not eliminated due to an issue with a particular link. 

One other aspect of security for the users to be mindful of is the increase in video quality that could possibly show sensitive information. Specific sensors, controls, data like serial numbers, and more could all be visible at a high resolution when they would be blurred or indistinguishable in lower quality videos. Additionally, the potential for live-streaming would mean that videos would be available to an audience without prior review, so either a wider audience of researchers or other employees working on Artemis than intended would see it or even the general public. The human aspect of this technology is therefore crucial to consider, as astronauts would need to maintain awareness of where cameras are pointed and what they may be unintentionally streaming to a live audience. Attackers often use publicly available design data to identify weaknesses in systems and plan attacks, so ensuring that live streams are conducted with security in mind will be key once astronauts can live stream directly from their spacesuits. 

Works Cited

Foust, J. (2024, August 21). Axiom space and Nokia partner to develop high-speed wireless communications for spacesuits. SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/axiom-space-and-nokia-partner-to-develop-high-speed-wireless-communications-for-spacesuits/